Rats are the pest we're called about most in Pretoria West, from workshops and yards to the older houses in the residential streets. After that come cockroaches, flies in summer, bird mites under old roofs and termites in older timber. Here's a quick guide to each, what causes it locally and what we do about it.
The area in a sentence or two
Pretoria West combines an industrial area with older residential streets. Big sheds, yards full of stock and scrap, old drains and pigeons on high roofs sit near houses that have been standing for decades. That's a mix that suits rodents in particular.
Quick guide: what, where and how
- Brown rats live in burrows under slabs, rubble and yard stock, and in drains. We use lockable bait stations around the perimeter and along runs.
- Roof rats climb into roofs of older homes and sheds. Traps inside, stations outside, and proofing.
- Cockroaches come up from old drains (the big American kind) or live in staff kitchens and home kitchens (the small German kind). Drain treatment and gel baits.
- Flies breed in skips, organic waste and anywhere water and rubbish sit together. Waste management first, then treatment of resting areas.
- Bird mites come from pigeon and myna nests in roofs and gutters. We deal with the nest and treat the surrounding area.
- Subterranean termites attack timber in older houses and stored timber in yards. Registered soil treatments or baiting.
Rats: the main event
Rats do well here because they have everything they need: food from waste and stores, water from drains, and shelter under rubble, pallets and old buildings. They don't respect property lines, so a yard with a heavy rat population puts pressure on every house nearby.
Signs include burrows at the base of walls and under concrete, droppings along walls, gnawed cables and packaging, greasy rub marks, and noise in the roof at night. For a business, we set up a planned layout of bait stations with regular checks and records. For a home, we bait outside, trap inside the roof and show you where they're getting in. Our rat control in Brooklyn and the western suburbs covers the method in more detail.
Older homes and termites
Older houses with timber floors, door frames and roof timbers are a target for subterranean termites, especially where soil has built up against the walls over the years. Mud tubes on foundation walls are the warning sign. Have it looked at before it becomes a roof-truss problem. See termite treatments in Brooklyn and older Pretoria suburbs.
Pigeons on old roofs
High industrial roofs and the eaves of older houses are pigeon country. The birds themselves aren't something we treat, but the mites they leave behind are. When young birds leave the nest, mites move indoors and bite. Office staff in an old building and families in older houses both run into this.
How we work
For businesses, we survey the site first, mark every station on a plan and set a visit schedule, with a written record each time. That paperwork matters if you supply food, deal with auditors or rent the building. For homes, it's a walk around inside and out, then a targeted treatment. Odourless, non-staining sprays are used only where they help. You don't need to leave during normal treatments; keep children and pets off treated surfaces until dry.
The mistake we see on yards
Clearing a big pile of rubble, scrap or old pallets without baiting first. The rats living under it don't vanish. They scatter into the buildings and the houses next door. Bait for a couple of weeks before a big clean-up, then clear it.
A tip for Pretoria West homes
Check your stormwater drain covers and sewer inspection points. Broken or missing covers are a direct route for rats and American cockroaches. A replacement cover is cheap, and it closes one of the most common entry points in older streets. Flies are the other summer complaint, and fly control across Pretoria has more ideas on keeping them down around bins.
What does it cost?
For a home, the price depends on the pest, the size of the house and the number of visits. A rat problem in the roof needs a few visits. A termite treatment is priced on the length of the walls and the method. For industrial and commercial sites, contracts are priced on the site size, the number of stations and the visit frequency. We survey before quoting.
Pretoria West is covered from our Brooklyn side, and the Brooklyn pest control page lists everything we do nearby. We're SAPCA registered with 25 years of experience, and treatments carry a 3-month guarantee: if the pest comes back, so do we. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us a photo of the droppings, burrows or damage.
Questions we get asked
Do you do pest control contracts for industrial sites in Pretoria West?
Yes. We set up scheduled monitoring with bait stations, insect checks and written records for yards, workshops, warehouses and factories.
Should I bait before clearing out a yard?
Yes. Baiting for a couple of weeks before a big clean-up reduces the number of rats that scatter into buildings and neighbouring homes.
Do you remove pigeons?
No, we don't remove birds. We treat the bird mites that come from their nests and can advise on closing roof gaps once nests are cleared.
How do I know if rats are coming from the drains?
Look for droppings and gnaw marks near drain covers, broken grids, and burrows close to sewer lines. Wet, dirty marks around a drain opening are another sign.
Can termites damage stored timber in a yard?
Yes. Timber stacked on bare soil is an easy target. Keep it off the ground on a slab or racking and check it regularly for mud tubes.